In this review, I evaluate and synthesize thematic findings from the past decade of qualitative research on the effects of high and increasing cost-sharing requirements on health care utilization from patient and provider perspectives.Whereas most of the literature on cost-sharing and health services utilization behavior has Ski de fond - Homme - Sous-Vetements been quantitative in approach, this synthesis helps us examine patient and provider perceptions and the lived experiences associated with high and increasing health insurance cost-sharing requirements.First, I find that high and increasing cost-sharing requirements lead American patients to forgo a range of health care services, even medically-necessary treatment for themselves and their family members, and even among employed and middle-class American families who have insurance coverage.Second, I demonstrate that high cost-sharing expenses beget intense patient confusion, fear, stress, and anxiety.
These findings complement results from the RAND Health Insurance Experiment, a large experimental study of health care costs and utilization conducted from 1971 to 1986, to improve our understanding of the effects of high cost-sharing requirements on patient health Kids Pajamas care utilization in the modern context.This is critical because some policymakers continue to espouse higher patient cost-sharing requirements.Limitations and future directions for research are discussed.